An electrostatic chuck table includes a plate-shaped base portion capable of transmitting a laser beam to be applied to a workpiece and an electrostatic attraction electrode portion capable of transmitting the laser beam. The laser beam has a transmission wavelength to the workpiece. The base portion has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The electrode portion is formed on the first surface of the base portion. A method for using the electrostatic chuck table includes a workpiece holding step of applying a voltage to the electrode portion formed on the first surface to thereby electrostatically hold the workpiece on the second surface, and a modified layer forming step of applying the laser beam through the first surface to a predetermined position inside the workpiece held on the second surface to thereby form a modified layer inside the workpiece.

Systems and methods for controlling wafer-breaker devices. In some embodiments, a controller for a semiconductor wafer singulation apparatus can be configured to receive an input signal having information about at least one singulation parameter. The controller can be further configured to generate an output signal based on the input signal to effectuate an operation associated with the singulation parameter. The controller can be further configured to disable manual control of the singulation parameter. In some embodiments, such a controller can be implemented, for example, in a control module, in a kit for modifying an existing singulation apparatus, as an integral part of a singulation apparatus, or any combination thereof.

Methods, systems, and techniques for the high speed manufacture of micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) arrays, such as arrays of polymeric capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs). A sheet of material from which to form cavities for the devices is obtained, and physical or energy projections are projected into the material to form the cavities. Upper and lower surfaces of the material are respectively contacted with and bonded to upper and lower metalized films. The metalized portions of the upper and lower metalized films may serve as electrodes for a CMUT, and the films themselves may be the CMUT's substrate and membrane.